Masamichi-san mailed me on Wednesday to tell me that he shipped out my package with Roise and the NDR stuff. I've been tracking it like crazy but I don't think I'm going to get it tomorrow. Too bad! I'm not too keen on anything arriving when my parents are home. They can be so nosy sometimes! Maybe they'll go out and let me sign for my package in peace. My father and brothers get packages all the time, but it seems almost a crime when I get something. Heh. It's just because they think dolls are stupid! :P

I finished the left side of the MSD coat--did I mention that? I haven't knit for a few days because I just haven't felt like it.

And....I finished the fifth Harry Potter book. It took me four days, Kristen three. I can't really say that I enjoyed it more than the other books, but I think that J.K Rowling said more in it than in all her other books combined. For the sake of those of you who haven't read it, lj cut away! ^_^

What a depressing and almost hopeless book! Well...I'm sure that's been said before, but...Sirius' death made me very sad, and he wasn't even a favorite of mine.

I don't think she shouldn't have done it, though. It was a brave choice for her to make, and hopefully the surviving characters will become stronger as a result of it. When I started reading the rumors, I heard a lot of people say that Colin Creevey (Harry's stalker ^_^;...) would die, and I thought, this is ridiculous, she's just killing characters for shock value! Cedric's death felt unnecessary, and if this was going to be more of the same, was the series going to go completely to hell?

Then I was a bad girl and really spoiled myself. I couldn't believe J.K. Rowling would kill off a fan-favorite like Sirius Black--now, that was a gutsy move! It was quite tragic because in the 5th book she portrayed him as less of a gallant fairy-godfather and more like a man who had suffered a lot in life. There was no foreshadowing of his death. It came as a complete surprise, and I appreciated that. Some people might have thought the aftermath was melodramatic, but I think that anyone who has suffered the sudden loss of someone close to them would understand that when someone dies, you don't accept it, you force yourself to move on. There really is no resolution. It just HURTS. The only time you can find relief is when you meet up with other people who cared about this person, sit together and cry.

My other thoughts on the book? I thought it was neat to finally see some illustrations of Professor Lupin ^_^;;...he looks pretty much the way I thought he would! He's still my favorite character, though in the fifth book he comes across as a bit too perfect. Well, he does have premature wrinkles..^^;;.. I like Tonks too. She reminds me of Pink! :D We haven't seen many young adult characters, and I think she's a nice change of pace.

I finished the book feeling sorry for Snape. But I'm sorry, kids, he's not supposed to be attractive! I can't stand the way people portray him in fanfiction as this brooding "bishounen." Why can't they accept that not everyone is born a beauty? I think he's supposed to be ugly, but that doesn't mean I hate him!

I do hate Draco Malfoy, though. He's a nasty, wooden character. If he were to shuffle off the mortal coil in the next book, I wouldn't care one bit!